During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. This week we are highlighting Volvo Construction Equipment, which is sponsoring breakfast on Wednesday, September 16th. Volvo Construction Equipment is the oldest industrial company in the world still active in the construction machinery. Since its start in 1832 as a machine shop in Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment has grown into one of the strongest global dealer networks, with production facilities on four continents and a market presence in over 100 countries as well as 25 state-of-the-art service and technical training facilities around the world. Volvo provides construction equipment necessary for modern mining operations to do their work quickly, efficiently, and safely. As a long standing member with IMA-NA, Volvo acts as leader in the Associate Member Section where Peter Causer currently sits as Chair. Volvo lends its expertise and knowledge of large construction equipment to IMA-NA meetings, always contributing valuable insights. IMA-NA's focus on Safety and Health in the workplace dovetails easily with Volvo's core value of safety, allowing our members to learn how to improve their usage of construction equipment both from a safety standpoint and return on investment.

During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. This week we are highlighting Rotex, which is sponsoring the "Low Team Score" prize for our golf outing. Since its founding in 1844, Rotex has been an innovative pioneer in the technological development of screening machines for dry separation from size analysis to conveying, screening and separating. Headquartered in Cincinnati Ohio, but with a growing global presence, Rotex screening and separating systems play a crucial role in numerous processing industries, including numerous industrial mineral operations. Rotex is committed to tailoring each system for clients in order to provide a configuration that provides maximum screening efficiency. As a member of our Associate Section, Rotex provides our Producer Members with some of the tools needed to run their operations efficiently.

During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. This week, we are highlighting, GE Capital Rail Services, which is sponsoring our Opening Night Reception. GE Capital Rail Services has been a strong and active member of IMA-NA for close to a decade, participating and serving in leadership roles within the Associate Member section. As a company with over a century of experience, GE Capital Rail Services has a long history of innovation, leadership and success in the freight rail industry. Headquartered in Chicago, GE Capital Rail Services owns one of the most diverse fleets in North America and serves a variety of customers and industries. GE Capital Rail Services can offer a variety of covered hoppers, open-top hopper cars and gondolas to support the aggregates and minerals markets. For decades GE has worked with railroads and industrial companies to help deliver products from mines and production points to usage locations across North America. With five GE-owned repair and maintenance facilities, a network of authorized shops and mobile repair units, GE Capital Rail Services can help their customers with all types of railcar repairs. GE Capital Rail Services is committed to safety, and to help maintain rigorous standards and the highest quality of service they are actively engaged in industry associations and railroad governing bodies.

During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. This week we are highlighting the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC, which is sponsoring the "Longest Putt" prize for our golf outing. The Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC is a full service law firm, focusing on occupational and mine safety and health, employment, and environmental law. Adele and her team are no strangers to IMA-NA membership, regularly offering their legal expertise in the form of webinars and presentations at our Technology Workshop. With offices in Maryland, West Virginia, and Colorado the team offers both consulting and legal services related to OSHA, MSHA, and the EPA. Adele herself, is not only an active member at IMA-NA but she formerly acted as the Chair for the Associate Member Section. Working with regulatory bodies, particularly the enforcement branches, is a reality of doing business but the process is often both confusing and time consuming. Luckily IMA-NA can count on Associate members, like Adele and her team, to provide expertise and representation to simplify the processes.

For more information on the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams PC and their services click here.

During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. Associate Member, GATX, is sponsoring the "Longest Drive" prize for our golf outing. Headquartered in Chicago, GATX is a global transportation company made up of four different groups: Rail North America, Rail International, American Steamship Company (“ASC”) and Portfolio Management. GATX's primary focus, since its founding in 1898, has been railcar operating leasing although the portfolio has grown to include non-rail activities. GATX offers full service and net leases for railcars and they offer a variety of raillcars from tank cars, to gondolas to both open and closed hoppers. The size of GATX's fleet allows customers to tailor the lease to fit their specific needs. GATX is one of IMA-NA's Transportation Associate Members. Streamlined transportation of the minerals IMA-NA members mine is necessary for growth and potential expansion, and a key example of the value in networking within IMA-NA membership. Being able to interact with the various sections creates an environment where the industrial minerals industry can thrive through close professional relationships.

During the lead up to the Annual Meeting, IMA-NA will take the opportunity to highlight our sponsors. Associate Member, Preco Electronics is sponsoring the "Closest to the Pin", prize for our golf outing. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Preco Electronics designs and manufactures electronic industrial-safety products. Preco is focused primarily on providing innovative and reliable safety tools to fleet managers, equipment operators and the heavy equipment industry. Preco's product line, PreView, is a radar system that protects against blind spots for operators and is currently the leading blind spot safety solution in the industry. Associate Members such as Preco Electronics demonstrate the array of fields and wealth of knowledge represented amongst IMA-NA's total membership. IMA-NA Members are committed to safety across the board and continue to innovate and implement the best tools necessary to keep the workplace safe for employees; Preco Electronics is but one example of this commitment.

IMA-NA is pleased to announce that Ms. Monica Pampell will be speaking at the 2015 IMA-NA Annual Meeting during our Friday, September 18 breakfast. Monica will present the following topic:

WHAT IS WELLNESS, EXACTLY?
What “Wellness” Means to You, Your Employees, and Success in your Organization.

Join an interactive conversation on how to navigate and capitalize on the new system of preventive care.

Topic highlights will include:
-Strategies to engage in effective and efficient preventive healthcare habits at work, at home, and while on the road.
-A proven system to promote wellness programs, successfully engage employees, and retain participation.
-Preparedness in the workplace via mind and body skill drills to promote health and safety onsite.

Personal Fitness and Nutrition Consultation Sessions AvailableMonica will also be making herself available for personal fitness and nutrition consultation sessions during the Annual Meeting. Please purchase your one-hour session while registering for the meeting, and you will be contacted to schedule your appointment.

Hourly rate per session is $175 and includes:
-Individualized program design based on your needs, interests, goals, and preferences.
-Written program sent electronically as a post-session follow-up.
-Links to helpful online resources pertaining to your fitness and nutrition goals.

Rise and Shine WorkoutLastly, Monica will host a Rise and Shine Workout on Thursday, September 17th, at 6:00am on the beach, targeting core strength, posture, and cardiovascular exercises to get your metabolism boost for the day.

About Monica PampellMonica Pampell is the President of PentaFit, LLC, a company specializing in innovative wellness programs for companies and organizations of all sizes. Ms. Pampell founded PentaFit in 2011 to apply her years of experience in personal training and nutritional counseling in a scalable way, and to create more widespread positive change in the field of preventive care. Ms. Pampell has assisted national organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Young President’s Organization in the development of dynamic and results-driven wellness programs.

Ms. Pampell began her education in Washington, DC at the George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a minor in Biology and a Pre-Medical Focus. She followed her undergraduate education with a Masters of Science in Exercise, Nutrition, and Eating Behavior, also from the George Washington University. She is a licensed Pre- and Post-Natal Trainer, a licensed Nutritionist, and a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified PT.

In addition to her knowledge in the wellness and fitness field, Ms. Pampell has a long-standing competitive passion for sport, exemplified by a dazzling list of athletic accomplishments. She competed on the Division I Swimming and Diving team in college, and then moved her attention to running and triathlons. She is a top-finisher in her age group in all of her road races, and clocked the third best female half marathon time in the nation one year. She placed among the top 20 women overall in her most recent marathon, and finished her triathlon season last year with a win.

As one of Washington, DC’s most sought after personal trainers, Ms. Pampell works with the best and brightest professionals in our nation’s capital on an individual basis. Her personal training clientele include well-known politicos, television and news personalities, famous chefs and, importantly, Republicans and Democrats. Ms. Pampell might not be able to keep you out of the Washington Post…but she will make you look good when you make the cover.

The fall of 2015 will see three different IMA-NA events, each offering distinct opportunities to our members. In September we will be convening our Annual Meeting at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. We are putting together a strong program that will allow members the chance to mix business with the networking opportunities that are so valuable to our industry.

Following the Annual Meeting, there will be two different events in October. October 5-6 Volvo will be hosting the Biennial IMA-NA Plant Maintenance and Optimization Seminar at their Manufacturing Facility in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The training opportunities at the Seminar should provide insight into how members can improve the ROI on large machinery.

The final fall event for IMA-NA, is the launch of the first North American Minerals Day. We are partnering with IMA-Europe to expand on the success of European Minerals Day by providing the framework for members to host events at their facilities. These events will foster greater community knowledge and engagement with the industry. North American Minerals Day will be taking place over the week of October 12th. Please watch for our upcoming website launch which will hold all the pertinent information for hosting an event. Registration is currently open for both our Annual Meeting and the Plant Maintenance and Optimization Seminar.

For the second year, IMA-NA is offering the opportunity to sponsor various activities at the Annual Meeting at the Breakers in September. As well as having sponsorship opportunities that vary in price and focus, we are pleased to note this year that interested members can opt to partner with another member in sponsoring some of the larger ticket items. We will be working with sponsors, as we get closer to the meeting, to tailor the support to suit the needs of the member. Below you will find the list of opportunities still available.